Unconventional school which lets children call teachers by first name forced to consider uniform code as parents reject relaxed rules

Its free and easy ethos was once seen as the way forward in secondary education.

But nearly 40 years after Stantonbury Campus opened, parents now seem to be less than enthused about its ‘liberal’ approach to teaching.

The comprehensive school, which has no uniform and lets pupils call teachers by their first names, is facing a boycott from families who would prefer to send their children to traditional schools.

School with a difference: Stantonbury Campus school, in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, has relaxed rules

And in an effort to win them back,
governors have decided to scrap the relaxed clothing policy and
introduce a uniform from September.

The decision comes amid nationwide concern about the lack of discipline in today’s schools.

Once a successful school, Stantonbury
was given a notice to improve from Ofsted last year amid concerns about
underachievement and behaviour.

Principle Chris Williams said parents are concerned the school has no uniform

In a statement issued by governors,
principal Chris Williams admitted parents were now sending their
children elsewhere because of the lack of uniform.

He said: ‘Most primary and secondary
children wear uniform for school and take pride in this – personal
presentation is a part of education.

‘Heads of our partner primary schools
tell us that parents are often concerned that the Campus does not have a
uniform and that some choose to send their children to other secondary
schools because of this.’

The school, in Milton Keynes,
Buckinghamshire, was dubbed a pioneer of the educational revolution when
it opened its doors in 1974 with ‘relaxed’ rules.

But governors admit this is no longer
what parents want following 500 responses to a consultation about
whether to introduce a dress code for children aged 11 to 14.

The uniform will consist of a white
polo shirt and jumper, with new rules for older pupils banning short
skirts and offensive logos.

Pupils will also be banned from wearing anything that might be regarded as ‘party’ clothes.

The school, which has around 2,000 pupils, is split into four Halls which function independently as mini schools.

In 2006 it was rated ‘good’ by Ofsted but was downgraded to ‘inadequate’ last year.